It was another early morning for Janae and I. We started off the morning at the Inland Empire Century Bike Ride. The ride was run by Kiwanis Clubs of Columbia and Tri-Cities Industry to raise money for their scholarships. Janae and I were in charge of managing pre-registered riders and riders packets. Bikers received packets with a snack and a t-shirt and could ride anywhere from 25 miles to 100 miles! In the short time that Janae and I were there, we were able to help and mingle with several people. I even ran into a few girls and a teacher who I spoke to last year as Miss Tri-Cities.
After finishing up with the bike ride, we ventured on over to Kadlec Hospital for Safe Kids. The families who attended Safe Kids were able to walk through the parking lot and visit local safety teams like fireman, policeman and dive and rescue. Each year over 1 million children die due to preventable injuries. However, the greatest part of Safe Kids is all children who choose to, get a free bike helmet, so they can be safe when riding their bikes. Janae and I walked around and interacted with all of the kids and helped in any way they needed. Each year it is estimated that 3,500 people attend! If you are in the area and have kids, I highly recommend attending next year. They will love it!
My morning started off bright and early, as I ventured home for a weekend full of celebrating mom, service and a little sun! When I finally hit Tri-Cities, I made my first stop at Ruth Livingston Elementary School and met up with Janae Calaway, aka Miss Washington Outstanding Teen! I was her humble assistant as we visited a first grade class who helped us tie fleece blankets for children at the hospital. The kids were all so willing to help tie the edges of blankets and help make a difference in lives of other children. After we finished tying the 3 blankets, the kids then make cards for children in the hospital that said things like, "get well soon", "be happy", or "smile=)". I had so much fun working with the kids and talking to each of them. For some reason, they thought it would be funny to made me guess their names instead of just telling me. We giggled a bit as I clumsily tried to pin point EACH of the kids' names...and then middle names! Overall, it was so much fun to see how eager they all were to help out and lend a hand to someone else. This is why I love working with kids, they can do amazing things if given the chance!
With that said, I quickly wanted to touch on another project I was SO fortunate to help Janae with. A few weeks earlier, Janae had asked the children to collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. Whichever class brought in the most tabs would get a doughnut party. Below is a picture of Janae and I with probably just half of the schools tabs. I think it is safe to say that the kids blew us out of the water with their contributions! Again, the kids were so excited and so eager. They chose to make a change and that they did!
With Mother's Day just around the corner, I wanted to find a way I could give back to a mother in need. A simple Google search and I was inundated with opportnites and ideas. There is jewelry that can be purchased for your mom and a percentage will be donated to a certain cause, or you can purchase organic flowers and a percentage will be donated to an array of different causes. The simplest cause that I found is an organization called Meals For Moms.
For a donation of $7, you will buy a mother in need a nourishing meal. This program is affiliated with Meals on Wheels and is of service to elderly women ages 60-64 who are divorced and separated and/ or raising a grandchild. At this time, there are over 7.5 million seniors that face the threat of hunger each day. For your chance to give a mother a great Mother's Day gift, you too can donate by clicking here.
In addition, by donating to Meals For Moms, you can donate the meal in honor or in memory of your mother/guardian. It was so cool to donate it to my amazing mother!
After an incredible weekend of fundraising, I felt inspired and decided that a great way to save money to donate is a piggy bank. A while bank a friend gave me this cute little oinker and I decided today that any change that is put into the pig will be donated to a good cause. At this point in time, I am not sure what that cause will be, but when the moment presents itself I will have something to give.
The great thing about using a piggy bank is you should always be putting money in and never taking it out. Over time there is more money than ever expected. Once again, it just goes to show that a little can go a long way in the end. If you have a piggy bank, think about using it to donate to charity. If you have multiple piggy banks, maybe divide the coins into different piggy banks like save, spend and donate. That way you get a little and you give a little!
This evening I participated in the Miss Washington Scholarship Organization Dessert Dash! All of the money raised will now be used as scholarship for the Miss Washington contestants in July. Tonight we raised around $3000 for the organization just from bidding on cakes! Below are some of the photos. The dessert we auctioned off is an Ultimate Oreo Cakester!
This afternoon the Alpha Omicron Pi from Eastern started their Teeter Totter A-Thon! This is from their page to better describe the event! It is still going, so go see what it's about! I donated a few dollars to help them out.
"Every spring, our women's fraternity, Alpha Omicron Pi, puts on a 24-hour Teeter Totter A-Thon for the Arthritis Foundation. We take shifts riding a teeter totter for 24 hours, asking for donations from passersby. All the funds raised from this event are donated to the Arthritis Foundation, the official AOII international philanthropy. The Arthritis Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness of the problems arthritis causes and fund research to find a cure...
Our goal is not only raise as much money to donate as possible, but also to get as much of the Cheney community involved in the event. We want to educate as many people as possible about the various types of arthritis, the problems it causes and the Arthritis Foundation. Please come out and join us!"
A little earlier in the year I asked Facebook friends if they had any ideas they may have for acts of kindness. A friend had suggested an organization called "The Miracle Project." This is a group which works to create community for children with autism through music, movement, theatre and film. Because April is autism awareness month, I figured I would take this opportunity- seeing as it is the last day in the month- to donate to the organization.
I checked out what the website had to offer to learn more about what they do and what they stand for. There are several classes that are offered in California and New York. Also, I found several videos better describing the organization and their mission, which states:
"THE MIRACLE PROJECT supports, nurtures and inspires children, teens and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities as well as their families, through innovative socialization skills, and transformational life building protocols.
We are dedicated to providing a positive and nurturing environment for individuals with autism and their families while building a community of knowledge, acceptance and joy."
In addition, I found this fabulous picture that better illustrates the statistics of autism.
After exploring for a bit, I found a place where I could donate any amount of money. I decided to make a small donation, as I am sure every dollar counts and is appreciated. This was a fantastic way to learn and spread awareness about autism and finish off, yet another great month.
This evening I was able to take part in a very cool experience here in Cheney. I have been wanting to get involved with a club at Eastern called Circle K International (college version of Kiwanis) for the longest time and finally found time today. Basically, this club looks for community service opportunities. We took a trip down to the Cheney Community Center, where they serve meals for those in the community in need. In addition, attached to the community center is also a clothing donation bank which is open late on Feed Cheney days so those who eat can also shop.
After talking to a woman who helps organize these dinners, she explained that:
Feed Cheney on average feeds 80-100 people
Groceries are also available from Second Harvest
Feed Cheney is a monthly event, happening the last Monday of the month
The different courses are prepared by different groups and organizations like Second Harvest and a local church.
Volunteers are a huge blessing and make this dinner possible.
The rest of the group and I were asked to clean off tables and put away the tables and chairs. During my time cleaning, I was able to talk to other volunteers and learn a lot more about the program. In general, I was able to have a good time and meet some very nice people. I gave the lady in charge my contact information, so hopefully I will be able to come back help and help in the future.
It is amazing that you live somewhere and be so unaware of the opportunities that await you until you go looking for them. Open your eyes, start looking because I promise you won't regret it!
Proms are just around the corner and every girl deserves to look and feel like a princess. Seeing as I may have a few lying around the house, I decided it best to donate a couple dresses to someone who better deserved them. The cool thing about this whole idea is that there are plenty of places that accept donated dresses and either sell them at an inexpensive cost or donate them to a girl in need.
This afternoon, I just Googled "donate prom dresses" and found a site called DonateMyDress.org. This site will inform you about where you can donate dresses and where you can receive dresses locally. In addition, the site also has scholarships and real stories that you can take a look at. To find the closest location to you, simply click on your state and a list of shops will appear. In Washington, for example, there are 3 locations; Beecas's Closest in Bellevue, Adina Bridal Center in Seattle and Fairy Tale Fashions in Aberdeen.The
great thing about sending your dresses somewhere within your state is just
that, you know that your dresses will be enjoyed by a beautiful young lady in
your neck of the woods.
P.S. If you have ever wanted to organize a dress drive at your school or locally, the website provides you with all of the information and materials you need to get started. My classmates and I held one in high school and it was fantastic. If you have the time and passion, go for it!
Today, I am going to keep it short and simple. Next time you walk by a piece of trash, pick it up. The environment will appreciate it and everything will look so much prettier.
Happy Arbor Day! I totally wish I could have planted a tree today in honor of the holiday. Instead, I resorted to planting flowers. Still a great idea to brighten up a backyard and create a better environment. To boot, it was so gorgeous outside. With the weather warming up, it is the perfect time to plant something and enjoy its beauty.
On a side note, there is a clean up in downtown Kennewick tomorrow morning. If you are looking for a way to honor the Earth, I will see you there!
Even though I only live a few blocks away from school, I still find myself constantly driving to school. Today, I decided to take a chance and try out the public bus. It is free for EWU students and picks up right in front of my house. By taking the bus each day- or walking- to school I will not only lower my carbon dioxide emissions and save some gas along the way. My experience on public transportation wasn't as bad as some stories I have heard. Just kidding, it was not bad at all. The trip was quick and easy and there are so many people who ride the bus that you may meet a new friend. Next week when I need to trek into Spokane, I am going to take the bus to work. Again, preventing nasty emissions in the air and saving gas.
After taking what seemed like hundreds of plastics sacks to be recycled, I decided it was time to focus on the REUSE part of reduce, reuse, recycle. When I visited the grocery store this evening, I bought a $1 reusable grocery sack. Now I can just take this sack to the store and save the landfill a few plastic sacks. Even better, if you are a member of Safeway, you can go online and get a free reusable sack. A lot of stores offer discount on reusable sacks. Keep an eye out next time you are at the store and save a few sacks from the landfill in the process!
It is time to keep the ball rolling on Go Green Week, and recycle. At the very beginning of the year, I noticed a plastic bag recycle bin and decided to collect grocery and shopping bags to recycle. In addition, I did a little research and found that Cheney has a recycling center on the main street and took note of what they recycle. With the materials in mind, I began collecting recycleables about a week ago.
(Plastic bags recycled)
Today, I took a little trip to the Cheney Recycle Center and dropped off my items. The man working was really nice and very appreciative for all of the items I had brought in. A little later I was talking to a friend and they had mentioned that, "once you start, you can't stop." Which is highly likely, because everywhere I look now I see new items that could be recycled. It was an eye opening experience to see how much garbage I collected over the course of one week. (seen below) All of that material could have been shipped to the dump to sit in a landfill. The city offers recycling bins for anyone who is interested. I even hear that some places will pay you for your trash...and everyone likes a few extra dollars! ;D
Happy Earth Day, or Earth week in this case! Today I simply focused on conserving energy. Unplugging all unnecessary cords in outlets, turning off lights and avoiding the computer. Each year, unused outlets suck enough energy to power 10.5 million homes! Just imagine how much energy and money you could conserve if you took just a moment to unplug unused cords. Below are the cords I found!
This afternoon, I watched the inspiring and touching movie "Pay It Forward."It reminded me of how simple a chain reaction can be in creating a movement. If we took just one moment out of our lives to pay it forward, we can create something much bigger than ourselves. If you have never seen the movie, I strongly encourage you do so. It is one of those movies that makes you ponder and even just for a moment realize that there is something that everyone and anyone can do to make a difference. In the movie, Trevor the main character simply explains how he can be a catalyst for change. Watch that particular clip below.
Today, I would like to pay it forward by surfacing my thoughts about a few people who motivate me to be better, do better and do more. They know who they are, but I don't think they realize how much they inspire me. After reading this, I hope, no I DARE you to pay it forward by telling at least 3 people how they have impacted you. Most of the time people change our lives for the better and usually are unaware.
1) This person has taught me that not all things come easy in life and if they don't you work for them. They have taught me not to sweat the small things (most of time) and live in this moment. Too often, I find myself planning. I am a planner, it is what I do. But when they are around, it brings me back to now. Time is a precious commodity and one that should not be taken lightly. They constantly remind me that you work hard to get what you deserve. If you want something, go get it because time will pass no matter if you are working towards your goal or not.
2) This person always makes me believe in my dreams whole-heartedly. Sometimes, I think they believe in me more than I believe in myself. But the thing is it is their drive and passion that motivates me. This particular friend is one of those people that, no matter what, has your back and is not afraid to push you to better yourself. They realize that this world is not all fairytales and butterflies, but they also know that there is still some magic left in the world. That no matter how many people doubt them, they believe what matters is that you believe in yourself and you have something worth fighting for.
3) The last person is one of the most naturally talented human beings I have ever met. Not to say they don't work hard, because they do. When they get a vision in their mind, it is no stopping them. This person and I have actually had several discussions about sports and what drives them. They did what they did for the love of the sport, but what they hadn't realized is they were doing so much more. Sports are a beautiful thing (hence all of the inspirational sports movies) and when you watch someone who is a true athlete you know why. Because athletes have always taught us that impossible is nothing.
This afternoon Tiff and I swung by the Gamma Phi house to enjoy grilled cheese with the g phi b's. Gamma Phi is a sorority on campus and which philanthropic events focus on Camp Fire USAand Girls On The Run. Today, specifically, the donations from the grilled cheese feed will benefit a local Camp Fire camp. The girls who were working brought us grilled cheese and our soup of choice. To boot, the house was decorated so adorably. When Tiff and I were there, there were several other tables of people chowing down on their scrumptious soups and sandwiches, meaning the event looked to be quite successful. I hope our sorority was able to raise a good amount for Camp Fire!
Camp Fire, I have recently learned is so much more up my alley than I could have ever imagined. This is a summer camp that offers several different camp courses, such as learning more about the environment or leadership. The leadership camp immediately caught my eye and I did some extra research. The promise of Camp Fire is as follows:
If you visit the Camp Fire website, you can find a list of all of the camps offered in all 50 states. You too can get involved in donating to your school's Gamma Phi Beta sorority, donate online, volunteer or even be a camp counselor. Today's youth are our leaders and they need good role models to light the way, just like the G Phi girls.
Today's act is very interesting and so so simple. I was browsing the Random Acts of Kindness website and came across an entry called click for a cause. It claimed that by clicking on different websites, money, food, etc. would be donated to the particular cause. No money, no hassle, just one click of the mouse. When you click, their sponsors donate. Attached to their entry were several sites that "clicking for a cause" applied. The list is set up by category of cause, so you have a lot to choose from. Here is the link for free click sites and an excerpt from their site.
Think you can't make a difference because you don't have any money? Below are links to websites whose organizations will receive money because you clicked them. Please note that some will only allow one click per day from the same computer. This is a great thing to do while you're stuck on hold during a phone call. Spread the word to your friends and family - when thousands of people are all doing it, it really does add up"
I did a lot of clicking and donated to disabled animals and hungry children. I hope that by clicking a lot on my little mouse, I was able to make a big difference. The cool thing about these sites is that you can go back daily and do some more clicking. You can click as much or as little as possible. So, now I encourage you to click around too. I mean, the odds are great that you are on a computer right now. Just a few more clicks and you could make a difference!
Yesterday while scrolling through Facebook, I saw a picture that said "wear a race shirt tomorrow in honor of Boston." Right when I saw that I thought how great of an idea this was, yet so simple. I went back to my room and scrambled through my closet to find all of my races shirts. When I found all my shirts my first thought was, man I have a lot of t-shirts, which was shortly followed by the thought that I should not wear one tomorrow, but one each day for the rest of the week.
When I woke up this morning I was getting ready for my internship and was trying to get creative with a business casual outfit and a race shirt. Luckily, I had one that only had print on the chest, small enough to be covered by my blazer. I'm sure it did not look fabulous but it didn't matter, as a friend of mine said, "because somethings are more important than dress codes." Each time I looked down at my outfit it constantly reminded of those in need and it kept them close to my heart.
Tomorrow it will be a different shirt and a different one the next day. It may be nothing immense, but it's the thought that counts, right? There is no such thing as too many prayers and thoughts for those in need. Keep it up world.
This afternoon I had to run to the bank and came across a very sweet opportunity. Banner Banks across the state of Washington are asking for donations for March of Dimes. While the bank teller was helping me, I found the brochure advertising the march in Spokane. When I looked at the website, I found several other walks in Washington state that you can find here. When the teller returned, I asked how I could help and that is when she informed me that they were accepting donations. I donated $5 to their growing amount. Then I was handed a card to write my name on, which would be displayed in the bank.
The mission of March of Dimes is to help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. Their research spans from premature birth, birth defects and infant health. What I learned is more than a half million babies are born prematurely each year. Forty percent of the time, doctors are unsure why the infants are premature. Also within a year, over 120,000 babies are born with a birth defect.
I now encourage you to look more into a walk in your area. Whether it be actually walking in the march, donating a few dollars or even just researching to see if your area has a run.
